Although the order apparently was intended to block access to only one particular U.S.-based group, the practical effect has been to block access from India to all of Yahoo!'s U.S-based Groups.
Efforts are on to shift the discussion group on river linking on some other site. In the meanwhile, information sharing exercise and debate on the issue continues through group mails. Since government's website on river-linking programme has been launched "as part of its commitment of the task force to ensure transparency on river-linking as a concept". This transparency entails shuting down of civil society discussion forum on anti-riverlining listserve. The website was inaugurated by B G Verghese, member of the task force. The address of the website is www.riverlinks.nic.in.
The Group targeted by the DoT does not at any time appear on Yahoo! India. Yahoo! Inc. has requested that the DoT narrow the scope and impact of its order and hopes the DoT will restore your access to this service shortly, according to the The Yahoo! Groups Team. (
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/local/dotblock.html) The government's website was launched at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Suresh Prabhu to review the progress made by different working groups set up to examine specific issues like legal, social, technical, international, environmental and institutional dimensions and to decide upon further action.
"The task force has expressed appreciation of the financial contributions being offered by public, suo-motto, for the Interlinking River (ILR) programme."
It was decided to accept these contributions after considering the procedural aspects as to how such contributions are to be dealt with, in consultation with the ministries concerned, the release added.
The website carries a news item entitled "Sukha Badh Per Kabu Pane Ke Liye Jaruri Hai Nadion Ko Joda Jana" that appeared in the "Navbharat Times" of 10th November, 2002. This report under "Black Board" refers to the opinions expressed by Honourable President of India and Honourable Supreme Court on interlinking of rivers and other related aspects. The successful examples of interbasin transfers are the projects implemented in Australia and China whereas the experience gained in Russia has been rather dismel.
On the issue of Feasibility Studies, the website says NWDA has conducted scientific studies on water balance of various river basins/sub-basins to establish the probable figures of water surpluses and deficits in various regions of the country.
Based on this information, the next logical step is to study the feasibility of various links to give concrete shape to Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers Development Components of NPP, envisaging diversion of water from surplus basin to deficit ones. A number of large dams and extensive canal systems will have to be put in place to store water, before any transfer of water from one region to the other is contemplated. Therefore, the preparation of the reports includes, studies on storage reservoirs to store floodwaters and canal conveyance systems to interlink various rivers for optimum utilization of available water resources.
While preparing the study reports, the conveyance system of the water transfer link proposals has been aligned in such a way so as to cover the maximum area to be benefited by choosing the shortest possible path and minimize the need of lifting of water, cost of earth works, land acquisition and cross drainage works.
However, It is obvious that many environmental issues like submergence of forests and cultivated habitations; rehabilitation and resettlement of people and other related issues would crop up. In this context, NWDA has taken every care, while preparing the feasibility reports of various links, to adopt appropriate and adequate compensations, rehabilitation and resettlement packages to the affected population, afforestation etc.
At the time of DPR preparation, the detailed Environmental Impact Assessment will be done and proper Environmental Management and Rehabilitation & Resettlement Plan for project-affected people will be evolved and provided for.
Reports of Studies Conducted so far
There are in all, 30 links under both Himalayan Rivers and Peninsular Rivers Development Components. Of these, 14 links are under Himalayan Component and the remaining 16 under Peninsular Component.
For each of these links, studies were undertaken sequentially - Pre-feasibility study followed by Feasibility Study. NWDA after having completed all the pre-feasibility studies, has with the guidance of Technical Advisory Committee set up for the purpose, prepared Feasibility Reports (FRs) for 8 links.
The completed FRs include one link, out of the 14 linkages, under the Himalayan Component namely Sarda – Yamuna and seven, out of the 16 links, of the Peninsular Component viz. Ken-Betwa link, Par-Tapi-Narmada link, Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar link, Damanganga – Pinjal link, Polavaram-Vijayawada link, Srisailam-Pennar link and Nagarjunasagar-Somasila link. The work for preparation of FRs is on-going for 16 links, and that for 6 of the remaining identified links is yet to commence. It is programmed to complete the feasibility studies of all the identified water transfer links in a time bound fashion.
News, views and information is being shared after the launch of River Linking News Digest to counter government's censorship.
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River Linking News 1
Digest No. 1
1. Interlinking? No, thanks!
www.indiatogether.org/2003/oct/env-nolink.htm
Dr Sudhirendar Sharma
2. Interlinking Rivers: A Win- Win Situation
National Conference on "INTERLINKING RIVERS: A WIN- WIN SITUATION"Wednesday, 29 October 2003 : Hotel Taj Mansingh, Delhi
Arjun Charan Sethi, Union Minister of Water Resources and T R Baalu, Union Minister of Environment & Forests have been invited as the Guest of Honour to address the gathering at the Inaugural Session of the Conference.
Suresh P Prabhu, Chairman, Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers has kindly agreed to be the Guest of Honour and address the gathering at the Inaugural Session of the Conference. There is no Delegate Fee.
3. 'Unite against India's river-linking plan' Source:
http://www.thedailystar.net/2003/10/15/d31015070363.htm 4. River-linking project Statesman terms Dhaka’s stand unwarranted
Source:
http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_5466.shtml 5. Making a desert of Bangladesh
Source:
http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_5448.shtml 6. River-linking death trap for Bangladesh
Source:
http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_5353.shtml 7. Bangladesh denies raising river-linking project at UN
Source:
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/03051710.htm 8. River linking to threaten ecology
Source:
http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_5154.shtml 9. Bangladesh accepts India's contention on river linking project PTI
Source:
http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp 10. India pacifies Bangladesh on river link project
Source:
http://ushome.rediff.com/news/2003/oct/01bang.htm 11. Take river-diversion issue to international forum
Source:
http://www.thedailystar.net/2003/10/10/d31010011010.htm 12. Indian High Commission in Nepal has conveyed to Nepal Government "River Linking is in amorphous state"
Source: personal communication
13. India evades Dhaka on river project issue
Source:
http://www.ndtv.com/topstories/showtopstory.asp?slug=India+evades+Dhaka+on+river+project+issue&id=12856 14. River Research Institute (RRI) of Bangladesh lacks fund 30 pc rivers lose navigability
Source:
http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_5080.shtml 
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